A variable optical attenuator is provided. The variable optical attenuator includes an input optical fiber, an output optical fiber, a non-attenuating, transmission-type diffracting prism and a prism positioning system. The input optical fiber, the non-attenuating, transmission-type diffracting prism and the output optical fiber are optically arranged such that an optical path from the input core of the input optical fiber to the output core of the output optical fiber passes through the non-attenuating, transmission-type diffracting prism. The non-attenuating, transmission-type diffracting prism diffracts an optical signal propagating from the input optical fiber to the output optical fiber such that an input portion of the optical path is non-linear with an output portion of the optical path. The prism positioning system changes a pose of the non-attenuating, transmission-type diffracting prism within the optical path thereby attenuating the optical signal.

A variable optical attenuator is provided. The variable optical attenuator includes an input optical fiber, an output optical fiber, a non-attenuating, transmission-type diffracting prism and a prism positioning system. The input optical fiber, the non-attenuating, transmission-type diffracting prism and the output optical fiber are optically arranged such that an optical path from the input core of the input optical fiber to the output core of the output optical fiber passes through the non-attenuating, transmission-type diffracting prism. The non-attenuating, transmission-type diffracting prism diffracts an optical signal propagating from the input optical fiber to the output optical fiber such that an input portion of the optical path is non-linear with an output portion of the optical path. The prism positioning system changes a pose of the non-attenuating, transmission-type diffracting prism within the optical path thereby attenuating the optical signal.

Various designs of optical switch are disclosed. In one embodiment, the optical switch uses wedges to hold up a collimator and secure the wedges and collimator to a substrate with a type of adhesive, thus avoiding high temperature in soldering process. There are at least two assemblies bonded to the substrate using the adhesive. Each of the assemblies includes a collimator and two wedges, where the wedges are provided to physically hold up the collimator in position. The assemblies are glued directly to the substrate after an optical alignment is performed.

A laser processing device includes a laser oscillator, an optical fiber that is a multi-clad fiber, a beam control mechanism provided in the laser oscillator, and a laser light emitting head attached to the optical fiber. The beam control mechanism includes a condenser lens, an optical path changing and holding mechanism that is disposed between the condenser lens and an incident end face of the optical fiber and changes an optical path of laser light LB, and a controller that controls an operation of the optical path changing and holding mechanism. The beam control mechanism controls a power distribution of the laser light by changing an incident position of the laser light on the incident end face.

Periscope assemblies are provided which have a light path that travels in a first plane along the first waveguide, a second plane along the second waveguide that is parallel to the first plane, and along a third plane along the third waveguide that intersects the first plane and the second plane. In some examples the periscope assembly includes first and second carriers comprising respective first and second waveguides and defining respective first and second cavities in which a third carrier comprising a third waveguide is disposed and optionally includes an optical component. In some examples, the cavities are defined in one or more carriers on a mating surface, on a side opposite to the mating surface, or on a side perpendicular to a mating surface.

Periscope assemblies are provided which have a light path that travels in a first plane along the first waveguide, a second plane along the second waveguide that is parallel to the first plane, and along a third plane along the third waveguide that intersects the first plane and the second plane. In some examples the periscope assembly includes first and second carriers comprising respective first and second waveguides and defining respective first and second cavities in which a third carrier comprising a third waveguide is disposed and optionally includes an optical component. In some examples, the cavities are defined in one or more carriers on a mating surface, on a side opposite to the mating surface, or on a side perpendicular to a mating surface.

An optical switch module includes a housing, at least two first collimators, at least two second collimators, a relay, and plural prisms. The housing has an accommodating space, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall. The first collimators are located on the first sidewall. Each of the first collimators connects even number of first fibers. The second collimators are located on the second sidewall. Each of the second collimators connects even number of second fibers. The second collimators are respectively aligned with the first collimators. The relay is located in the accommodating space and has a rotation support. The prisms are located on the rotation support and respectively between the first and second collimators. The rotation support is configured to enable at least one of the prisms to be in light transmission paths between the first fibers and the second fibers.

According to one embodiment, in an optical fiber bundle, in the cross section, arrangement of cores of a first multi-core fiber and arrangement of cores of a second multi-core fiber are the same as each other, arrangement of cores of a third multi-core fiber and arrangement of cores of a fourth multi-core fiber are the same as each other, and when the first multi-core fiber is rotated 180 in a circumferential direction of the first multi-core fiber, the arrangement of the cores of the first multi-core fiber is the same as the arrangement of the cores of the fourth multi-core fiber.